Pop Goes the Weasel?

[walkinghorse]

You know the nursery rhyme, round and round the mulberry bush...pop goes the Weasel!
What does pop mean?

Was watching NYPD Blue, and Andy was asking the question after reading the nursery rhyme to his son Theo. Got stuck in his head, and he was asking everyone, including witnsses, suspects, his partner, Bobby Simone, and no one seems to know?
Andy was speculating pop as in street slang, kill, and then wondering if it was appropriate for his young son?

 

[Onomea]

In my mind, I associate that rhyme with a jack-in-the-box, with the “pop” being when Jack or whatever pops out of the box. But maybe that is just because my jack-in-the-box played that tune? Or do they all play that tune....?

Hmm. A mystery from the distant mists of yesteryear’s memories...

 

[robertrwalsh]

If I remember correctly the term "weasel" in this usage has something to do with shoe making. I have no idea what if any special significance "pop" might have.

 

[steelslaver]

I always thought the weasel was popping up.

They do just kind of pop their head up when they are checking you out.

 

[Watchdog]

You know the nursery rhyme, round and round the mulberry bush...pop goes the Weasel!
What does pop mean?

"Pop Goes the Weasel" was a very popular ditty in English music halls in the 1850s and 1860s.

Quoting from an article in the Daily Mail:

"In the textile industry, a spinner's weasel was a mechanical thread-measuring device in the shape of a spoked wheel, that accurately measured out yarn by making a popping sound to indicate the correct length had been reached.


The mind-numbing and repetitive nature of the work is captured in the final line of each verse, indicating that whatever you were doing, or wherever your mind had wandered to, reality was never far away with the weasel to pop you alert again."


There are apparently a bunch of variations to the lyrics, and yeah, lots of Jack-In-The-Boxes played the tune when the crank was turned.

I honestly don't know which would be worse...the deadly boring job in English mills, or having to listen to the tune over and over.


If I were going out to a music hall after a long day in the mill to have a pint or two, the last thing I'd want to hear would be "Pop Goes the Weasel"!

 

[RGVshooter]

I think this photo might visually explain what "pop" meant.

 

[sheepdawg]

Here's what I think of when i hear weasel.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjSnbr7peZY[/ame]

 

[two-bit cowboy]

That is a fantastic photo to explain it all, RGVshooter! Perfect!!!!!

In the winter, here, their coats turn snow white except for the black tip on their tail. We call them ermine, then. The remainder of the year they are known as black-tailed weasels.

One day, looking out the kitchen window, my Barbara saw a hole form in the 5' snow drift beyond the window. "Pop." Up came the ermine (just like RGVshooter's image).

I determined upon hearing the tale that had to be where the nursery rhyme originated.

 

[steelslaver]

I was out hunting elk once and there was quite a bit of snow around. I was younger then and would sometimes spend the whole day out walking around. Sometimes stopping, making a small fire, a cup of coffee and eat a snack. I had a ermine (white winter weasel) pop up out of the snow and check me out. Then he would disappear, and then pop up out of the snow. look me over again and disappear. Did it repeatedly for quite a while almost going all the way around my location. Curious, like many animals. Fishing along the Yellowstone river one night, had a small fire going and a beaver swam up and down the river, then got out on the bank right in front of us, look us over then, go back in the water and swim away.

While the story about the "weasel" in the mill may have been the reason for the song, I bet the weasels tendency to do this was the reason the device was called a weasel.

 

[ExcitableBoy]

Pulled from the all-knowing InterWeb:

"Some Experts Say...

Pop goes the Weasel is a merry tune centered on an all too familiar children's theme: the cycle of poverty in society.

A good chunk of the poem is made up of plays on words that are themselves Cockney slang terms from the old days. So for instance, "Pop" is a slang term meaning to pawn something (that is, sell it at a pawn shop) while "weasel" translates to "coat". Does that help? No?

Well, the deal was that no matter how piss poor a London man was back in the day, he was expected to own a suit in order to dress nicely on Sunday. The trick to being able to do this was to pawn your suit ("Pop goes the weasel") on Monday and then purchase it back before Sunday."

Many other English ditties/nursery rhymes in this vein were also social commentaries of the day, focusing on kings, queens, politicians and scandals. At one time, the common Brit could tweak a lot of upturned noses in this manner. Sadly, not so these days...

 

[JayFramer]

This one is quite tall, and looks to be in no mood for popping:

 

[eveled]

I am reminded of those jokes we told as youngsters were that little kid is told innocent names for body parts then sees his parents in the shower. Then all the names come together in an amusing story, because his parents are fooling around.

I am curious where you found reruns of NYPD BLUE. One of my all time favorite shows. I have wondered why it is never shown anymore. I thought it might have something to do with the trade towers falling.

 

[walkinghorse]

I am reminded of those jokes we told as youngsters were that little kid is told innocent names for body parts then sees his parents in the shower. Then all the names come together in an amusing story, because his parents are fooling around.

I am curious where you found reruns of NYPD BLUE. One of my all time favorite shows. I have wondered why it is never shown anymore. I thought it might have something to do with the trade towers falling.

On Direct TV it is on AUDHD, which channel 71, 500, and several others. 5PM M-F, and 5 straight repeats of the previous weeks shows on Sunday afternoon. We first caught it last fall about half way through the series run, and then it started with the beginning and is repeating now. Right now the show has Jimmy Smits, Dennis Franz, Kim Delany, Jimmy Turturro, Gordon Clapp, Andrea Thompson, and the guy that plays Arthur Fancy as Lt. of detectives. Afterwards Mad Men comes on M-F and does it's repeats on Saturday afternoon. Sons of Anarchy ended a while back, which Jimmy Smits was in also.
Good to be retired !

 

[eveled]

Jimmy Smits was also in the very first episode of Miami Vice. Al Bundy was in a first season episode too. Both looked amazingly young.

 

[Fishslayer]

Jimmy Smits was also in the very first episode of Miami Vice. Al Bundy was in a first season episode too. Both looked amazingly young.

My wife woulda left me for Jimmy Smits. Didn't really blame her!

Ed O'neil was a pretty lucky guy. Married to two of the hottest TV moms ever!